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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "contact me immediately" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • joseph_akilu88@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: joseph akilu <joe.akilo19@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <joseph_akilu88@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2007 23:53:43 +0000
Subject: Dear Friend..



FROM MR. JOSEPH AKILU. OFFSHORE PAYMENT OFFICER INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK LTD.ACCRA GHANA. WEST AFRICA.EMAIL: joseph_akilu88@hotmail.com

TELEPHONE 00233-246-890497
Dear Friend, I NEED YOUR HELP.

I am Mr. Joseph Akilu, the Offshore Payment Officer at the INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK LTD and close friend to Late Mr.Mathew,from your country. First, I got your contact address through YOUR COUNTRY WEBSITE DIRECTORY.In my files I discovered that my customer abandoned sum of US$18.5Million (Eighteen million Five Hundred Thousand United states Dollars) in our bank INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK LTD.On a record before my department I was made to know that on the 1st of June 2004, him and his family were involved in a car accident along Kumasi-Aburi Express road. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. After these several unsuccessful attempts, to see his relatives because of the deposited fund in our custody

Since I got information about his death, My office has been expecting his next of kin to come over and make claim of this money which is currently deposited in our custody because the INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK LTD.can not release it directly to me or any other person unless somebody applies for the release of it as next of kin to the deceased as indicated in our mutual agreement (Between THE DECEASED and the INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK MANAGEMENT),unfortunately his supposed next of kin died along with him at the Fatal auto crash. It therefore upon discovery the ugly news that I now decided to make business with you to direct you on how to apply with this office (INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK LTD) to assist in repatriating the money left behind by my friend before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank. The request of a foreigner as next of kin in this business is occasioned by the fact that my customer was a foreigner and the next of kin died been the wife died alongside with him and also a citizen of Ghana cannot stand as next of kin to a foreigner.
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over Three years now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you are from the same country so that the proceeds of this account valued at USD$18.5million can be paid to you and then you and l can share the money. 60% to me and 40% to you, I have two necessary legal documents that can be used to backup any claim we may make. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us seeing this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Please endeavour to contact me immediately through my private and confidential Email Address as indicated: joseph_akilu88@hotmail.com
Expecting a positive response soonest.
Sincerely yours,
Mr. Joseph Akilu
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam